The CliC Open Science Conference was themed Crisis in the Cryosphere because we have moved into a world where multiple components of the cryosphere are being lost, with catastrophic impacts on local communities and ecosystems, and global repercussions. More than 400 scientists gathered in Wellington, New Zealand for a 4 day conference with multiple side events before and after the programme to present research from all components of the cryosphere, and to discuss what should be next steps from an international perspective as the UN Decade of Action in the Cryosphere kicks off the next IPY is on the horizon.
The day before the meeting began, Petra Heil and ran a Sea Ice workshop, with more than 50 scientists presenting posters and talks and to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration and streamline research efforts among bipolar sea-ice research initiatives and operational services. The goal was to bring together key international initiatives, including Arctic Sea-Ice Working Group (ASIWG), Sea-Ice Model Intercomparison Project (SIMIP), Antarctic Sea-Ice Processes & Climate (ASPeCt), and Biogeochemical Exchange Processes at Sea-Ice Interfaces (BEPSII), plus operational sea-ice services such as the International Ice Charting Working Group (IICWG). Christopher Burn also held a workshop on behalf of the International Permafrost Association with 25 participants from Arctic and high mountain permafrost scientists. There was also a workshop for Antarctic Science Platform affiliates and non-ASP guests to participate in a session on Mātauranga in the ASP. Following the meeting, SCAR INSTANT held a workshop with more than 60 participants to update INSTANT’s position with two years left in programme, focusing on linking Antarctic and Southern Ocean science to globally relevant societal and policy outcomes, by identifying the pathways, gaps, and opportunities for research to deliver actionable impact.
Each day of the conference was begun with set of themed plenary speakers and then a panel, and the parallel oral sessions around sea ice, sea level rise, mountain cryosphere, snow, Indigenous knowledge, permafrost, policy and governance, paleoclimate, polar oceans, hazards and infrastructure, space and timescales of ice sheet change, polar meteorology, communicating cryospheric change for a diverse audience. There were also 2 poster sessions, and Early Career Scientist Lightening Talks and a Climate Fresk tutorial session. During the meeting a Polar Indigenous workshop took place, there was a workshop on Communicating Policy Relevant Science to Decision Makers and the General Public, a Polar Early Career Workshop From Priorities to Action: Next Steps for ECR Involvement in IPY-5, and a townhall dedicated to the Decade of Action in the Cryosphere. In the evenings we had an Ice Breaker, an Early Career Networking event at the Carter Observatory Space Place, a documentary screening of Mighty Indeed followed by a Q and A session with the director and documentary participants, a Conference Dinner at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and a public panel on Impending Crises in the Cryosphere: Tipping Points and Their Consequences with 5 speakers and audience Q&A facilitated by Radio New Zealand climate change journalist Kate Newton.
The first plenary subject was Indigenous Knowledge in Co-production, and featured Professor Sandy Morrison speaking on the Tangata whenua perspective (Māori), Dr Liza Mack on the Arctic perspective, Mr Douglas Esagok on Perspectives on climate change effects in Canada's western Arctic as a hunter, trapper, and reindeer herder living in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region of Canada's Western Arctic, and Ms Estelle Thomson, President of the Native Village of Paimiut Traditional Council-the Tribal Government of the Paimiut People of Southwest Alaska speaking on her experiences of Indigenous engagements with scientists through generations of her community. Audience Q and A was moderated by Dr Billy van Uitregt (Ngā Rauru, Te Ātihaunui a Pāpārangi, Tūhoe).
The second days' plenary topic was Crises in the Cryosphere, with Dr Lauren Varog discussing Accelerating glacier loss- global trends and insights from New Zealand, Professor Chris Stokes on Warming of +1.5°C is too high for polar ice sheets, Dr Petra Heil on Antarctic Sea Ice in Transition: An Integrated Approach to Understanding a Changing Planet, and Professor Nick Golledge speaking on Ice sheets in a climate of change: thresholds, regimes, and abrupt transitions. This was followed by Professor Matt King moderating a discussion of the state of the cryopshere.
On day 3, the plenary discussion was about Storying the Cryosphere: Past, Present, and Future. Professor Ellie Leane spoke on Media, Culture, and Public Awareness of Antarctica, author Nic Low talked about his personal Māori experience and relationship to mountains in Walking off the map: retracing Māori mountain routes before it’s (already) too late. Tania Te Huna spoke about Local stories, global narrative: building intimacy at the intersections and her experience working with global indigenous collaborations based on bi-polar migratory bird species. This panel was chaired by Professor Rebecca Priestley.
The fourth panel was moderated by Dr Florence Colleoni called Science to Solutions. Professor Tangdong Yao spoke about Glacier melt causes imbalance of Asian Water Tower in a warming climate, Professor Richard Levy on Connecting Antarctic Melt to Coastal Communities and Adaptation Practitioners, Professor Rob DeConto about Antarctic ice sheet dynamics, MICI, and IPCC, and Professor Shin Sugiyama on Studying climate and environmental changes in Greenland with local community.
The closing panel was chaired by Professor Rob DeConto called On the Horizon & The Way Forward. Dr Jeremy Ely spoke about the Decade of Action in the Cryosphere, Dr Gerlis Fugmann spoke about Arctic Research Priorities for the next decade, Professor Gary Wilson talked about the 5th International Polar Year, and Professor Perta Heil about Antarctica InSync, and Dr Narelle Van Der Wel on WMO initiatives in the cryosphere. This was followed by another panel discussion with Dr Emila Kyung Jin, Professor Tandong Yao, Dr Thambon Meloth, Dr Florence Colleoni, Dr Georgia Grant, and PhD candidate Alex Aves. This panel and audience Q and A focused on the way forward for the cryospheric community and also for informing CliC's priorities in the future.
Highlights
- More than 400 scientists, including approximately 100 ECRs, came together in a pan-cryospheric meeting concluding with a plenary session where the community talked about the way forward and priorities for the Decade of Action in the Cryosphere and IPY 5.
- Side meetings included bi-polar sea ice, an arctic and high mountain permafrost working group, and an Antarctic and Southern Ocean focused SCAR INSTANT workshop.
- CliC is guest editing a special issue of the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences. The special issue will be open globally, not limited to CliC OSC 2026 attendees. The issue will also serve as a CliC contribution to the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences (2025-2034). Submission deadline is September 10, 2026 and can be accepted here.
Date and Location:
9 – 12 February 2026, Wellington, New Zealand
IASC Working Groups funding the Project:
Project Lead
Keith Alverson (Climate and Cryosphere (WCRP CliC) International Project Office, USA)
Year funded by IASC
2025